Weigela plant named ‘Slingco 1’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Weigela  plant named ‘Slingco 1’ that is characterized by a compact habit, a short overall height, red flowers and green foliage.

Botanical classification: Weigela hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Slingco 1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Weigelaplant botanically known as Weigela hybrida and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name ‘Slingco 1’.

The new cultivar is the product of a breeding program conducted by theinventor in a cultivated area of Hazerswoude, The Netherlands. Theobjective of the breeding program was to develop new Weigela cultivarswith a shorter overall height and attractive red flowers.

‘Slingco 1’ originated from the crossing of the female or seed parentWeigela ‘Evita’ (not patented) and the male or pollen parent, Weigela‘Red Prince’ (not patented) in 2005. The cultivar ‘Slingco 1’ wasselected by the inventor in 2007 as a single plant within the progeny ofthe stated cross in a cultivated area of Hazerswoude, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction by softwood cuttings of the new cultivar ‘Slingco1’ was first performed in 2007 in Hazerswoude, The Netherlands. Sincethat time, under careful observation, the unique characteristics of thenew Weigela cultivar have been uniform, stable and reproduced true totype in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following represent the distinguishing characteristics of the newWeigela cultivar ‘Slingco 1’. These traits in combination distinguish‘Slingco 1’ as a new and distinct cultivar apart from all other existingvarieties of Weigela known to the inventor. ‘Slingco 1’ has not beentested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may beobserved with variations in environmental, climatic, and culturalconditions, however, without any variance in genotype.

-   -   1. Weigela ‘Slingco 1’ exhibits a compact habit.    -   2. Weigela ‘Slingco 1’ exhibits a short overall height.    -   3. Weigela ‘Slingco 1’ exhibits red flowers.    -   4. Weigela ‘Slingco 1’ exhibits green foliage.

The closest comparison plant is the male parent plant Weigela ‘RedPrince’. The new cultivar ‘Slingco 1’ is distinguishable from ‘RedPrince’ in having a more compact habit and a shorter overall height. Theflowers of ‘Slingco 1’ are red. In contrast, the flowers of ‘Red Prince’are purple red.

The new cultivar ‘Slingco 1’ is distinguishable from the female parent‘Evita’ in having a more compact habit and more uniform branching.‘Slingco 1’ has dark red flower buds and red flowers. In contrast, theflower buds of ‘Evita’ are purple and the flowers are purple red.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photograph illustrates the distinguishing traits ofWeigela ‘Slingco 1’. The plant in the photograph shows an overall viewof a four year old outdoor field grown plant. The photograph was takenusing conventional techniques and although colors may appear differentfrom actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate aspossible by conventional photographic techniques.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new Weigela cultivarnamed ‘Slingco 1’. Data was collected in Boskoop, The Netherlands fromfour year old outdoor field grown plants. The time of year was Septemberand the temperatures ranged from 12-28° Centigrade during the day, and8-15° Centigrade during the night. The light level was natural outdoorlight and there were no photoperiodic treatments or growth retardantsused. Color determinations are in accordance with The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 5^(th) edition 2007, except wheregeneral color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Thegrowing requirements are similar to the species.

-   Botanical classification: Weigela hybrida ‘Slingco 1’.-   Parentage: ‘Slingco 1’ resulted from the crossing of the female or    seed parent Weigela ‘Evita’ and the male or pollen parent, Weigela    ‘Red Prince’.-   Annual or perennial: Perennial.-   Plant type: Shrub.-   Suitable container size: 1.5 liter and larger.-   Plant shape: Flattened globe shaped.-   Growth habit: Broad upright, free branching.-   Height: Average 56.5 cm. in height.-   Width: Average 45.3 cm. in diameter.-   Vigor: Moderate.-   Growth rate: In spring approximately 8 cm. per month.-   Low temperature tolerance: USDA Zone 5.-   High temperature tolerance: USDA Zone 9.-   Propagation: Softwood cuttings.-   Time to initiate roots: 21 to 28 days are required to initiate roots    at 18 degrees Centigrade in the summer.-   Time to produce a rooted plant: 60 days are required to produce a    rooted plant at 16-22 degrees Centigrade in the summer.-   Crop time: Approximately 18 months are required to achieve a    finished plant from cuttings.-   Root system: Main roots moderately thick, other roots moderately    fine.-   Stem:    -   -   Branching habit.—Free branching.        -   Basal branching.—Yes.        -   Average number of lateral branches.—9 main branches with 6            lateral branches per main branch.        -   Pinching.—Not required, pinching will improve branching.        -   Lateral branch diameter.—Average 4 mm. in diameter.        -   Lateral branch length.—Average 16.3 cm. in length.        -   Internode length.—Approximately 2.9 cm. between nodes.        -   Stem appearance.—Slightly quadrangular in shape, moderately            glossy, older branches rounded.        -   Stem aspect.—Upright to outward with an average angle 50            degrees from vertical.        -   Stem strength.—Moderate.        -   Stem color immature.—166C.        -   Stem color mature.—Varies from 199A to 199C.        -   Pubescence.—Upper internodes of young shoots covered with            soft short hairs, average 0.5 mm. in length, 156D in color.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Compound or single.—Single.        -   Quantity of leaves per lateral branch.—Average 12.        -   Leaf shape.—Elliptic to ovate.        -   Leaf tip.—Acuminate.        -   Leaf base.—Short attenuate.        -   Leaf margin.—Finely serrate.        -   Leaf dimensions.—Length: 7.8 cm, width: 3.6 cm.        -   Leaf texture (both sides).—Slightly glossy.        -   Pubescence.—Main vein on upper side sparsely covered with            short adpressed hairs, 0.4 mm. in length, color 156D. Main            and secondary veins on lower side moderately covered with            soft short hairs, 0.4 mm. in length, color 156D.        -   Vein pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Leaf color young, upper surface.—144A with tinges of 148A.        -   Leaf color young, lower surface.—146C with tinges of 148A.        -   Leaf color mature, upper surface.—N137A.        -   Leaf color mature, lower surface.—148B with tinges of 177A.        -   Vein color, upper side.—151A.        -   Vein color, under side.—152A with strong tinges of 164A to            164B.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Petiole dimensions.—4.0 mm. in length, 3.5 mm. in width and            2.0 mm. in height.        -   Petiole color upper side.—152D.        -   Petiole color under side.—152A with tinges of 164A.        -   Durability of foliage to stress.—High.-   Flower:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Solitary, in pairs or in clusters,            terminal and in leaf axils.        -   Inflorescence type.—Solitary in pairs or in clusters.        -   Flower type.—Single, campanulate.        -   Flowering habit.—Once per year.        -   Natural flowering season.—Spring to early autumn.        -   Time to flower from planting.—Approximately 8 months.        -   Quantity of flowers per lateral stem.—Average 5.        -   Quantity of flower buds per lateral stem.—Average 1.        -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—Average 350.        -   Rate of flower opening.—Approximately 75% of flowers are            open at one stage.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Bud length.—Average 3.2 cm.        -   Bud diameter.—Average 8 mm. in diameter.        -   Bud shape.—Narrow obovate.        -   Rate of opening.—Approximately 4 days.        -   Bud color.—46A with a lighter base 47A to 47B.        -   Flower aspect.—Outward to upright.        -   Flower shape.—Campanulate.        -   Flower dimensions.—Average 1.7 cm. in diameter and 3.5 cm.            in height.        -   Flower longevity.—Approximately 12 days.        -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning.        -   Number of petals.—Five in number.        -   Petal arrangement.—Rotate, fused into a trumpet shaped            corolla.        -   Petal appearance.—Dull.        -   Petal texture.—Smooth.        -   Petals fused.—Yes, lower 77.5% fused.        -   Petal shape.—Spathulate.        -   Petal margin.—Entire.        -   Petal apex.—Obtuse.        -   Petal dimensions.—Average 3.5 cm. in length and free part            7.5 mm. in width.        -   Petal color when opening (upper side).—53D with a lighter            base 54A.        -   Petal color when opening (under side).—53B.        -   Petal color fully opened (upper side).—53D with a lighter            base 54A.        -   Petal color fully opened (under side).—53B.        -   Petal color fading to.—Not fading.-   Sepals:    -   -   Number of sepals.—Average 5.        -   Sepal arrangement.—Rotate.        -   Sepal texture.—Smooth, dull both surfaces.        -   Sepal shape.—Linear.        -   Sepal margin.—Entire.        -   Sepal apex.—Narrow acute.        -   Sepal base.—Narrow cuneate.        -   Sepal dimensions.—Average 6 mm. in length and 0.7 mm. in            width.        -   Sepal color, young (upper side).—151B to 151C with tinges of            171A.        -   Sepal color, young (under side).—151C with tinges 172A to            172B.        -   Sepal color, mature (upper side).—151B to 151C with tinges            of 171A.        -   Sepal color, mature (under side).—151C with tinges 172A to            172B.-   Calyx:    -   -   Calyx shape.—Rotate.        -   Calyx dimensions.—Average 6 mm. in length and 7 mm. in            diameter.-   Pedicels:    -   -   Pedicel dimensions.—Average 7 mm. in length and 1 mm. in            diameter.        -   Pedicel angle.—25° from vertical.        -   Pedicel strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Pedicel color.—145A to 145B with tinges of 152D.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamen number.—Average 5.        -   Anther shape.—Basifixed, narrow oblong.        -   Anther length.—3 mm.        -   Anther color.—164B to 164C.        -   Filament length.—1.6 cm.        -   Filament color.—62D.        -   Amount of pollen.—Low.        -   Pollen color.—158C.        -   Number of pistils.—Average 1.        -   Pistil length.—3.3 cm.        -   Stigma shape.—Club shaped.        -   Stigma color.—155A.        -   Style length.—3.2 cm.        -   Style color.—62D.        -   Ovary color.—144B tinged 152D.-   Fruit and seed production: Fruit and seed development has not been    observed to date.-   Disease and pest resistance: Disease and pest resistance has not    been observed to date.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Weigela plantnamed ‘Slingco 1’ as described and illustrated.